The air quality in the national capital of Delhi remained “very poor” for the fourth consecutive day, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 336 on Wednesday morning. According to SAFAR-India, the city’s AQI has been in the “very poor” category since Sunday, when it was at 309. On Monday and Tuesday, the AQI was recorded at 322 and 327 respectively, according to data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India.
Residents of Delhi have expressed difficulty in breathing, especially during morning walks, due to the pollution. A morning walker near Mayur Vihar said, “It feels a bit uncomfortable to breathe while running due to pollution now as compared to in the summer months. I face congestion. We need to remain careful and take all precautions.”
In specific areas of Delhi, such as Delhi University and Pusa, the air quality was recorded as “very poor” with AQI levels at 391 and 311 respectively at 7 am. Nearby cities also experienced poor air quality, with Noida recording an AQI of 391 and Gurugram at 323.
The AQI is a tool used to communicate the air quality status to the public. It converts complex air quality data into a single number, nomenclature, and color, making it easier for people to understand. The AQI ranges from 0 to 500, with values above 300 considered as “very poor” and values above 400 considered as “severe”.
To address the issue of pollution, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai mentioned the implementation of a 15-point winter action plan. This plan aims to curb pollution caused by vehicles, biomass burning, and dust. As part of the plan, the “Red Light on, Gaadi off” campaign was launched on October 26 to encourage drivers to turn off their engines at traffic lights.
Rai also highlighted the increase in pollution caused by vehicles and biomass burning, as indicated by the increasing levels of PM2.5 and decreasing levels of PM10. He emphasized the importance of the “Red Light on, Gaadi off” campaign in addressing this issue.
(Note: This article has been rewritten and is based on a syndicated feed. The headline has not been edited by the NDTV staff.)
